"No shark fin, bluefin tuna or black moss will be on the menu at official entertainment functions," the government said. "The items have aroused international and local concern because they are either captured or harvested in ecologically unfriendly or unsustainable ways, or cause other conservation concerns."

As we've reported, scientists estimate about 100 million sharks are killed each year, a number that has depleted the shark population worldwide.

"The practice is widely considered cruel and wasteful, because the sharks are often thrown overboard, finless, to die. Hong Kong is the world's biggest trade hub for shark fins, representing about 50 percent of the trade. ...

"Last year, China said it would prohibit official banquets from serving shark fin soup, but the measure was expected to need as many as three years to take effect, and even then, compliance may be uneven.

"Conservation groups hailed Hong Kong's announcement, with Joshua S. Reichert, the executive vice president of the Pew Charitable Trusts, saying it was 'particularly significant' because of Hong Kong's role in the shark fin trade."

The AFP reports that a Hong Kong spokesman said the move will serve as "an example of raising public education and awareness on sustainability." The AFP adds:

"Marine conservationists expressed outrage in January after images emerged of a factory rooftop in Hong Kong covered in thousands of freshly sliced shark fins.

"They estimated there were 15,000 to 20,000 fins being laid to dry on the rooftop on Hong Kong island ahead of an anticipated surge in demand over Lunar New Year in the following month of February."